California voters are set to decide on a sweeping measure backed by Democrats that would allow local governments to expand rent control and enact tighter tenant protections. The proposal aims to amend the state’s current laws, which limit rent control policies on residential properties built after 1995. Supporters argue the change is necessary amid the state’s ongoing housing affordability crisis, with soaring rents pushing many working-class residents out of major cities.
Opponents, including real estate and landlord groups, say the policy would discourage new housing construction, further exacerbating housing shortages. They contend that expanding rent control would reduce developers’ incentives to build, leading to a supply crunch that harms the very renters the law aims to protect. The measure, appearing on the ballot this November, reflects broader national debates over how far governments should go to regulate housing in response to rising costs.
Read more about Arizona home prices.